Though I speak with angel tongues

Representative Text

1 Though I speak with angel tongues
Bravest words of strength and fire,
They are but as idle songs
If no love my heart inspire;
All the eloquence shall pass
As the noise of sounding brass.

2 Though I lavish all I have,
On the poor in charity,
Though I shrink not from the grave,
Or unmoved the stake can see,
Till by love the work be crowned,
All shall profitless be found.

3 Come, thou Spirit of pure love,
Who didst forth from God proceed,
Never from my heart remove;
Let me all thy impulse heed,
Let my heart henceforward be
Moved, controlled, inspired by thee.

Source: The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book: for use in divine worship #685

Author: Ernst Lange

Lange, Ernst, was born at Danzig, Jan. 3, 1650, where his father, Matthias Lange, was in the service of the Senate. He was for some time secretary in Danzig, and thereafter in Warsaw. In 1691 he was appointed judge in the Altstadt of Danzig, and in 1694 senator. He died at Danzig, Aug. 20, 1727 (Bode, p. 103; Allegemeine Deutsche Biographie, xvii. 623, &c). After a visit to the Netherlands in 1698, Lange allied himself with the Mennonites and Pietists in Danzig, and came into conflict with the Lutheran clergy. His hymns were mostly written about the time when the pestilence visited Danzig, in 1710, and principally appeared in his LXI. Gott geheiligte Stunden, without place or date of publication., but probably at Danzig, 1711 (Preface dated… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Though I speak with angel tongues
Original Language: German
Author: Ernst Lange
Translator: Catherine Winkworth
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

GUIDE (Wells)

Converted to Christianity as a youth at a mission in Buffalo, New York, Marcus Morris Wells (b. Cooperstown, NY, 1815; d. Hartwick, NY, 1895) spent most of his life near Hartwick as a farmer and maker of farm implements. He is remembered in hymnody for writing both the text and tune of "Holy Spirit,…

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HOSMER (Gounod)


Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 21 of 21)
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Songs for the Sanctuary #829

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Songs for the Sanctuary #829

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Songs for the Sanctuary #829

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The Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs #355

The Church of God Selection of Spiritual Songs for the Church and Choir #d909

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The New Laudes Domini #875

TextPage Scan

The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book #685

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